Marya Knauer is a low-income scholarship student at a university in Port Oriskany, New York. She is devoted to her studies and maintains perfect grades, preferring to read rather than socialize. Her few friends are mostly people from her dorm, including another scholarship student named Phyllis. During her freshman year, Marya comes close to receiving a B+ in a religion class, despite having known the material and performing well on the exam. When she confronts the professor about it, he says he must have made a mistake and corrects her grade. In retaliation, she steals his fountain pen. During her sophomore year in college, a thief appears in the dormitory, robbing students' rooms. Some people suspect Marya is the thief until she comes back to her room and discovers both her wallet and the fountain pen are missing. Around the same time, Marya meets Imogene Skillman, a well-off sorority girl who, even though she is engaged, puts more effort into boys than her classes. Imogene is impressed by Marya's intellect and befriends her. She takes Marya to a coffee shop where students like to talk for hours, then to a play in which Imogene is performing. Marya meets Imogene's parents and spends more time away from her books. Meanwhile, Phyllis begins failing a class, which leads to her having a breakdown. When she leaves the university, the robberies stop, leading the girls to believe Phyllis is the thief, though they never admit it out loud. Imogene invites Marya to a formal dinner at her sorority house, expecting to show off Marya's intelligence, but Marya stays quiet for most of the evening. Imogene becomes upset, but not for long. She gives Marya one of her nice coats. Later, Marya meets Imogene's parents. While at dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Skillman question their daughter about her fiancé Richard, but Imogene does not want to talk about him. In the spring, Marya agrees to go on a double-date with Imogene and two boys from Imogene's social circle. When Andy, Marya's date, tries to kiss her, Marya rejects him and walks two miles back to her dorm room alone. This incident causes a rift in Marya and Imogene's friendship. Imogene begins spreading rumors about Marya, and Marya avoids Imogene in return. When her grades begin to slip, Marya decides to confront Imogene in her room. When she arrives, Imogene is sick and in bed. They argue, and Marya leaves, swiping a pair of Imogene's earrings on the way out. She then goes to get her ears pierced and wears the earrings around campus. Imogene sees her one day and attempts to take the earrings back, but Marya punches her, putting an end their friendship. She is able to recover her grades and maintain her perfect record, while Imogene has to drop out of college.